With families preparing for their holidays, the local NHS is reminding people who take prescribed medication to order theirs in plenty of time, so they are ready for trips away.
Dipul Patel, a community pharmacist from Colchester, advised people can avoid unnecessary stress by giving at least seven days to arrange their repeat prescriptions.
Dipul said: “It can be easy to forget to order medication amid the excitement of packing for a holiday, but if you leave it to the last minute, you risk scuppering your whole trip. Make sure it’s near the top of your to-do list.
“It’s also best to prepare for those unexpected delays that can impact your travel plans, whether it’s strike action, accidents or other unexpected issues. Taking a few extra days’ supply of your medication means that you can avoid the stress of going without.”
As well as ordering medication early and preparing for delays, Dipul offered these tips to make sure people’s holidays go as smoothly as possible:
- Keep your medication in your hand luggage in case you need them or in case your suitcase is lost or delayed.
- If you are travelling abroad, check before you leave whether your destination country has any restrictions on the medication you are taking.
- Bring your prescription details with you and have them ready in case you are asked to show them.
Alongside medication, Dipul added that pharmacies can help with other summer related health questions such as sun protection, dehydration and treating insect bites.
Dipul said: “If you’re not sure what level of sunscreen protection you need, if you need advice on how to treat dehydration or horrible insect bites, your pharmacists can help. We can make recommendations for trusted, clinically proven options that suit your needs.”
Whether going abroad or staying home, summer health advice is important. This summer has started off hot in England with the hottest June on record and hot start to July.
Dr Anna Davey, local GP and Associate Medical Director for Neighbourhood Health at NHS Essex, said that it is “vital” that people take action to avoid heat exhaustion and protect their skin against the sun whether they are on holiday or staying at home.
We are seeing more people develop heat-related conditions like heat exhaustion as well as increases in heat-related deaths and cases of skin cancer. With this summer looking like a particularly hot one, it is more important than ever that people take precautions to protect themselves from the heat and the sun.
Dr Anna Davey, local GP and Associate Medical Director for Neighbourhood Health at NHS Essex
Avoiding going outside during the hottest part of the day, wearing plenty of sunscreen and drinking water regularly will all help you avoid sunburn and keep hydrated.
Remember to also check on loved ones who might be more vulnerable to high temperatures. Age, certain conditions and some medication can all weaken the body’s ability to keep cool during hot weather.
If you are worried somebody might have heat exhaustion you can get advice from NHS 111 online. Heatstroke is an emergency and people should call 999. Make sure you know how to recognise the signs of heat exhaustion and heatstroke so you can act if someone needs your help.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion include a tiredness, dizziness, headache, feeling sick, excessive sweating and muscle cramps.
Heatstroke can lead to fast breathing and heartbeat, confusion, hot skin without sweating and loss of consciousness. More advice on staying well in the summer can be found on the NHS Essex website.